The Watchdog

As part of the YCSRR’s advocacy and public education activities, we distribute our newsletter The Watchdog at most international conferences and events we attend.

The Watchdog was first produced at the Youth Forum in the Hague in February 1999. We decided that a newsletter would give us an opportunity to share our experiences with everyone present at the UN – government and non-governmental organizations alike.

Each morning a new issue was published, which highlighted one of the YCSRR advocacy goals, such as youth participation, services or increased funding for youth programs. It gave YCSRR members the opportunity to tell our readers about the organization, or about a program with which we were involved. The Watchdog published facts and information on topics such as sexual and reproductive health education, and access to services in different countries. It also gave the YCSRR an opportunity to assess how negotiations were proceeding and a voice to express our opinions, views and hopes as to how the government delegations would address the sensitive issues surrounding adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. The Watchdog was – and is – a way to put real people behind the paragraphs that everyone was discussing. We wanted people to know who we are, what we do, and how their work could affect young people for better or for worse.

The Watchdog is entirely youth-authored. Articles are written by Youth Coalition members, peer activists, and partner organizations.